Hearing this, Song Wan said, “This eunuch from Yangxin Hall who came to deliver the message—do you recognize him?”

Heng Zhi was momentarily stunned by the question, then carefully recalled the appearance of the eunuch who had come to relay the message.

She thought for a long time and frowned slightly. “He was indeed unfamiliar.”

Song Wan said, “His Majesty has never had any intention of dallying with palace maids, and he has never allowed anyone to attend closely when bathing or changing clothes. How could he suddenly keep a palace maid by his side?”

“Moreover, these four words ‘beautiful face’ invite considerable imagination, but are also rather deliberate.”

Having been husband and wife for many years, what Shen Qianyu disliked most was undressing before others. The claim about keeping someone while bathing truly didn’t hold water.

“I’m afraid that with so many rumors in the rear palace recently, some people have developed ulterior motives and are deliberately coming to test the waters.”

Song Wan smiled gently. “If I make a scene using this opportunity, it would be tantamount to confirming my reputation for jealousy. Tomorrow, someone would probably use this as an excuse to attack me for monopolizing the rear palace and interfering with imperial heirs.”

Heng Zhi, Heng Wu, and the others’ expressions tightened, secretly thinking that they had indeed been disturbed by the outside rumors recently.

“No wonder people have been approaching this servant to gossip during this time. It turns out someone has set a trap to frame Your Majesty.”

Luanjian clenched her fists, her lips pressed tightly together.

“Your Majesty must investigate the person behind this and punish them severely.”

“That won’t do.”

Song Wan smiled. “This matter cannot be investigated. Let them be.”

It was true that she and Shen Qianyu were deeply devoted as husband and wife. As ordinary people, this would be a beautiful thing, but with Shen Qianyu as emperor exclusively favoring one person, it was improper.

For those ministers in the front court to make such probes was not a matter of disrespect—rather, she and Shen Qianyu should bear some responsibility.

“If we don’t investigate, it can be left unresolved. But if we make a big fuss about it, it will only provoke everyone’s dissatisfaction and give them material to exploit.”

“When refusing people or matters, gentle methods are superior. Moreover, the masses cannot be opposed. Getting entangled with them will only result in mutual destruction. Better to go with the flow.”

Seeing that Song Wan’s face showed not the slightest trace of anger or fury, Heng Zhi and the others finally set their minds at ease.

Their young mistress was never hasty when encountering matters, and this made those who served by her side increasingly calm and steady in temperament as well.

Song Wan picked up an exquisitely crafted cloth bell and teased the three fat cats, while Shen Shixiao was surrounded by the cats in the very center, giggling from time to time.

An hour later, Shen Qianyu hurried in from outside, his face full of dark gloom.

As soon as he entered the hall, Heng Zhi and the others withdrew.

“What’s happened to you? Why do you look so agitated?”

As soon as Song Wan spoke, Shen Qianyu said, “Earlier, an assassin was caught at Yangxin Hall. Wan Xiao took them to the Eastern Depot’s torture chamber, but the person bit off their own tongue and committed suicide without saying anything.”

“I don’t know who is behind this or what their intentions are. Right now I have no leads at all.”

Hearing this, Song Wan’s hand paused slightly. “An assassin?”

“How could an assassin suddenly appear in the palace?”

Shen Qianyu said, “I don’t know either.”

“I took medicine and was napping at Yangxin Hall. After waking, I was perspiring and wanted to bathe. Who knew someone would sneak into Yangxin Hall and suddenly strangle my neck.”

“…”

Song Wan frowned. “Male or female?”

“Wearing a palace maid’s dress—should be a woman.”

If it was an assassin, why would they deliberately send someone to notify her at Changle Palace?

Song Wan looked up and asked in confusion, “Did she have any weapons in her hands?”

“None at all.”

“How did she strangle your neck?”

Shen Qianyu said, “I was resting in the bathing tub with my eyes closed. This person reached out a hand toward me, which I forcibly broke at the arm and threw off. What’s wrong? Is there some problem?”

“Right, we should also station more people at Changle Palace. I’ve had Wan Xiao assign more people to watch over Yan’er. Until we determine who made the move, you must be careful.”

After saying this, Shen Qianyu’s brows furrowed tightly. “I don’t know who bore murderous intent toward me or why. This person is hidden extremely deep. Though without martial skills, their mind is ruthlessly resolute—upon entering the Eastern Depot and seeing Wan Xiao, they immediately bit off their tongue and committed suicide.”

“Such character suggests someone cultivated as a spy for many years.”

“…”

Shen Qianyu had not considered at all that the woman might have been offering herself. As soon as he saw the woman, he branded her an assassin. Perhaps fearing she would implicate her clan, the woman could only seek death.

Such decisiveness suggested she came from no lowly background—probably also a daughter of an aristocratic family.

Song Wan looked up at Shen Qianyu and smiled slightly, but didn’t expose this matter.

His actions would probably directly extinguish the thoughts of those who had developed improper ideas.

Thinking of this, Song Wan found it amusing in her heart.

“Your hair is still wet. The weather is cold—don’t catch a chill.”

Taking a bright yellow soft towel from the washing stand, Song Wan walked before Shen Qianyu and helped him dry his hair bit by bit.

The woman’s fingertips were soft, brushing across the top of Shen Qianyu’s head bit by bit, making him quite uncomfortable as he shifted his body.

But as soon as he moved, he felt a piercing pain in his left knee.

“What’s wrong?”

Shen Qianyu gritted his teeth and forced himself through the sharp pain. “Nothing, just shivered from the cold.”

“If you can’t bear the cold, why aren’t you wearing the cotton-padded inner robe I sewed for you?”

“I can’t bear to wear it.”

Shen Qianyu grinned. “Wan’er made it for me with her own hands. I’m reluctant to.”

Having grown to this age, he had never had a close relative personally sew clothes or shoes for him.

Watching Song Wan work busily for several days just because he had casually mentioned feeling cold before bed one night, Shen Qianyu felt that cotton-padded inner robe was heavy and precious beyond measure.

“If it wears out, I’ll sew you another.”

“I’ve already had the palace embroiderers make them. Wan’er needn’t trouble herself with this.”

Knowing she cared for him, Shen Qianyu felt incredibly sweet inside.

“Tonight I’ll stay with you at Changle Palace. Until the person behind this surfaces, I won’t be able to rest easy.”

“Alright.”

After helping him dry his hair bit by bit, Song Wan reached into his robes to gently check.

“Wan’er, what are you doing?”

Shen Qianyu pressed down on his robes, quite bashful. “These days it can’t be done. If you want… you’ll also have to wait a while longer.”

The man looked up at Song Wan, his tone serious. “Wan’er, don’t tease me anymore.”

Hearing this, Song Wan smiled. “I was just checking your body temperature. Where did your mind go?”

“The room has a charcoal brazier lit. Go change into something heavier.”

Taking several heavier garments from the wardrobe, Song Wan helped him change bit by bit.

In winters past, Shen Qianyu’s body had been like burning charcoal, always intensely hot. But since winter began this year, his hands and feet had been ice cold. Sometimes when they rested together, he would even startle her awake with his coldness.

Moreover, he had begun to fear the cold. In winter, morning and evening, he would often unconsciously complain of being cold.

Her hands paused while helping him change, and Song Wan frowned slightly, then quickly covered it up.

“I’ve had the palace craftsmen make several thin, small hand warmers. When you attend court, you can put them in your sleeves or against your chest. That way you’ll be warmer.”

“It’s just that this year’s winter is particularly cold. No need to pamper me so.”

Though Shen Qianyu refused with his words, the corners of his grinning lips didn’t lower for a long time.

“In the past in Nanqing, I could even spend the night sleeping in snow naked—it wasn’t difficult. How could I be frightened by this winter?”

“Indeed so.”

Song Wan smiled softly and agreed with Shen Qianyu’s words.

But there was no smile in her eyes. Instead, she was quite worried.

The truth was, this year’s winter…

Was not cold at all. Compared to last year, it was actually several degrees warmer.